Opal Sock Yarn Has Arrived

Opal Sock Yarns
The sock yarn with a built in design!

We have added three new Opal sock yarns to our collection (Zirkus, Uni-Color, Rendez-vous). For those who have never worked with Opal, you are missing out.

Opal is a high quality German sock yarn that has the color actually printed on the running yarn just before it is wound into balls. This printing method allows greater flexibility in the choice of color and design.

This yarn is great for socks, hats, scarves, baby sweaters and even a poncho. You can get free patterns using Opal on www.ptyarn.com/freepatterns.html.

75% Wool, 25% PolyamideMachine wash and dry18 wpi 7 sts/1"

US #1, one ball makes a pair of socks! 459 yds (425 m)

Cristi Teaches Socks on 2 Circulars

Loretta wanted to learn how to knit socks from the "toe up" on 2 circular needles. Since she has never knitted socks before, Cristi suggested that she first learn to make a regular pair of socks. Cristi and Loretta set-up 3 private lessons, 2 hours each.

Lesson 1: Introduction to the 2 circulars technique for knitting small circumferences. Cast on and toe
Lesson 2: The heel (short row heel techniques and a discussion on reverse heel flap/gussets - homework, knit the cuff)
Lesson 3: Binding off (there are several options for this)

It was fun seeing Loretta's sock in the various stages. See how fantastic Loretta's first sock turned out.

If you would like to learn to knit socks on 2 circular needles or want to view Charlotte Yarn's other sock classes, click here.

New Socks Books Have Arrived!!!

In honor of sock month, we received the following sock books.

New Pathways for Sock Knitters Book One by Cat Bordhi

8 new kinds of sock architecture, 26 individual patterns and 8 master patterns (which can be made in any size, any gauge, with infinite variations).

Jane stopped by and got the first copy!

GETTING STARTED KNITTING SOCKS by Ann Budd

From cast-on stitches to binding off, this handbook details the simple steps needed to turn seemingly complicated sock knitting projects into easy and enjoyable activities. Helpful photographs and instructional drawings ensure that even inexperienced knitters will be able to produce high-quality socks and handle more complicated techniques, such as the Kitchener stitch at the toe. Using instructions for five different sizes—from child through adult large—at five different gauges, knitters can produce styles ranging from delicate dress socks to thick and furry slipper socks. More adventurous knitters can add variety and flair by following one of 16 unique designs or trying one of the dozens of rib, cable, and lace patterns provided. With plenty of tips and a handy stitch dictionary, this guide unleashes the creativity and fun of sock knitting.

FAVORITE SOCKS 25 Timeless Designs from Interweave by Ann Budd & Anne

Portable, quick to knit, and universally wearable, new knitters have recently been discovering socks in droves, while Interweave Knits magazine has been providing original, beautiful patterns for a decade. Featuring 25 beautiful and timeless sock patterns for every occasion in a range of techniques, traditions, and designs, many of these patterns have become unavailable as original issues of Interweave Knits went out of print, but are available once again in this inspired collection. Highlights include a tutorial for knitting socks on two circular needles, instructions for making resoleable socks, and six completely new designs for those avid knitters who may have every issue of Interweave Knits magazine.

MORE SENSATIONAL KNITTED SOCKS by Charlene Schurch

Discover more patterns, more stitches, and more styles-this follow-up to the award-winning bestseller Sensational Knitted Socks presents new possibilities for knitting great socks! Combine the yarn, gauge, stitch pattern, and size of your choice to knit more than 1,000 variations of adult- and kid-sized socks Start with 11 basic designs; then try loads of different looks with an all-new stitch-pattern library. Choose your favorite technique-use four or five double-pointed needles or two circular needles.

Sock Month Has Begun with a Bang

August is sock month at Charlotte Yarn. Today we had our beginners sock class. We had 5 lovely ladies in the class. They all did wonderful!!!! Class was taught by our sock queen, Natalie.

Donna stopped by to ask when the beginners sock class was. When I told her it was taking place now, she was disappointed that she missed it. However, Donna did not stay disappointed for long. She said that she wanted to learn, so I got her started. She never knitted on double pointed needles before, but you would have never known it. She did so good. By the time she left, she turned the heel and did the gusset on a miniature sock.

To help celebrate sock month, we just got in new colors of the Austermann Step sock yarn. Each ball has Aloe Vera and Jojoba Oil making this a fabulously soft sock yarn. This yarn is 75% Virgin Wool and 25% Nylon for both durability and softness. It is a fingering weight yarn with a gauge of 30 stitches per inch when knit on 2.5 to 3mm (U.S. size 1 or 2) needles. It is a Superwash Wool yarn so yarn care is simply machine wash, cool and dry flat.